The league takes a break to make way for the first international break of the season, which is longer this year than in previous years. From 2026 onwards, the FIFA men’s international calendar will feature a single 16-day window between late September and early October, replacing the two separate breaks scheduled until 2025. This change allows national teams to play up to four matches during the same period.
Twelve FC Lugano players will be on international duty with their respective teams, four of whom are with senior national sides and eight with youth teams. In addition, a further six bianconeri have been included in the standby lists and are therefore ready to be called up should the need arise.
EZGJAN ALIOSKI – NORTH MACEDONIA
Ezgjan Alioski returns to the North Macedonia squad for the start of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. Four matches are scheduled in Group 1 of League B: the home opener against Switzerland on 26 September, followed by an away fixture in Slovenia on 29 September. On 3 October, North Macedonia will host Scotland, before rounding off the international break on 6 October with another match against Switzerland, this time away from home.
HANNES DELCROIX – HAITI
After taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Hannes Delcroix returns to represent Haiti in the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League. The Caribbean side, placed in Group A of League A, will face, in order, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica again. The competition also serves as a qualifying route for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
BEKHRUZ KARIMOV – UZBEKISTAN
Three international friendlies await Bekhruz Karimov with Uzbekistan. The Asian side will face Iran on 24 September in Fergana and Syria on 1 October in Tashkent, before travelling to South Korea for their final friendly on 6 October. These matches form part of their preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
DERECK MONCADA – HONDURAS
Dereck Moncada has received another call-up to the Honduras senior national team, which is currently competing in the group stage of the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League. Four matches are scheduled: against Suriname, Jamaica, Martinique and Jamaica again. Once again, this competition forms part of the qualifying campaign for the Gold Cup.
YOUNG BIANCONERI
There have also been numerous call-ups for the youth teams. In fact, eight youngsters from the Bianconeri Academy have been called up by the Swiss national youth teams – a number never before achieved simultaneously by the Club. Ian Tiraboschi and Leon Gervasini will be with the Switzerland U17s for their training camp in Spain, whilst Aaron Davis will take part in the Switzerland U18s’ fixtures in the Czech Republic.
The presence in the Switzerland U15s is particularly significant, with no fewer than five bianconeri youngsters called up: Liam Raphael Edward Chiri, Tyler Gamboni, Andrea Parisi, Alessio Regazzoni and Stefano Rota. This is an unprecedented achievement for FC Lugano and highlights the work carried out by the Bianconeri Academy.
STANDBY PLAYERS
In addition to the fourteen players called up, a further six bianconeri players have been placed on standby by their respective national teams and may be called up during the international break should any of the selected players be unavailable or for other reasons.
Switzerland: Uran Bislimi and David von Ballmoos
Switzerland U20: Rron Krueziu
Switzerland U17: Andrea Riva
Switzerland U15: Iacopo Di Sisto and Leonardo Erba
OUR NATIONAL TEAMS’ FIXTURES
Times shown are in Swiss time.
Wednesday 23 September
11:00 | Wales U17 – Switzerland U17 (Tiraboschi, Gervasini)
Thursday 24 September
16:00 | Uzbekistan – Iran (Karimov)
Friday 25 September
01:20 | Haiti – Trinidad and Tobago (Delcroix)
16:00 | Northern Ireland U17 – Switzerland U17 (Tiraboschi, Gervasini)
Saturday 26 September
03:00 | Honduras v Suriname (Moncada)
20:45 | North Macedonia v Switzerland (Alioski)
Monday 28 September
01:00 | Haiti v Costa Rica (Delcroix)
11:00 | Switzerland U17 v Sweden U17 (Tiraboschi, Gervasini)
16:00 | Czech Republic U18 – Switzerland U18 (Davis)
Tuesday 29 September
02:00 | Jamaica – Honduras (Moncada)
20:45 | Slovenia – North Macedonia (Alioski)
Wednesday 30 September
16:00 | Switzerland U18 – Greece U18 (Davis)
Thursday 1 October
16:00 | Uzbekistan – Syria (Karimov)
Friday 2 October
02:00 | Dominican Republic – Haiti (Delcroix)
Saturday 3 October
02:00 | Martinique – Honduras (Moncada)
11:00 | Slovakia U18 – Switzerland U18 (Davis)
20:45 | North Macedonia – Scotland (Alioski)
Monday 5 October
02:00 | Costa Rica v Haiti (Delcroix)
Tuesday 6 October
04:00 | Honduras – Jamaica (Moncada)
13:00 | South Korea – Uzbekistan (Karimov)
20:45 | Switzerland – North Macedonia (Alioski)
With the long international break now over, FC Lugano will be back in action on Saturday 10 October at the AIL Arena against FC Luzern, on matchday 10 of the Brack Super League.